Apparatus and method for configurable processing

ABSTRACT

A configurable execution unit comprises operators capable of being dynamically configured by an instruction at the level of processing multi-bit operand values. The unit comprises one or more dynamically configurable operator modules, the or each module being connectable to receive input operands indicated in an instruction, and a programmable lookup table connectable to receive dynamic configuration information determined from an opcode portion of the instruction and capable of generating operator configuration settings defining an aspect of the function or behavior of a configurable operator module, responsive to the dynamic configuration information in the instruction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims benefit from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122,385, filed by Simon Knowles on May 5, 2005 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURABLE PROCESSING”, commonly assigned with the present invention and incorporated herein by reference as if reproduced herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to computer processors having configurable execution units, methods for operating such computer processors and execution units, and computer program products that make use of instruction sets for computers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some computer processors are limited, by virtue of having an instruction set fixed at the time of manufacture, in their ability to efficiently handle different types of data processing calculations within certain algorithms and in their ability to perform different algorithms selected for example from convolution, Fast Fourier Transform, Trellis/Viterbi calculations, correlation, finite impulse response filtering, and the like. In particular, known computer processors do not support the performance of software-customised instructions which operate on multi-bit operand values, for example such instructions acting on operands of four or more bits or at the level of computer words (typically 16, 32, or 64 bits). Known computer processors cannot efficiently perform complex software-customised operations involving sequences of simpler customized operations, in response to individual software-customized processor instructions forming part of the processor instruction set.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide improved computer processors and methods of operating computer processors, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a configurable execution unit comprising operator modules capable of being dynamically configured at the level of processing multi-bit operand values by a data processing instruction. The dynamically configurable operator modules are connectable to receive input operands indicated in the data processing instruction. At least one configurable operator module is dynamically configurable by operator configuration settings to adjust operator function and/or behavior within a general operation class characterized in that at least one configurable operator module is hard-wired to support a predetermined class of operation. The dynamically configurable operator modules are also characterized by a programmable lookup table implemented as a programmable logic array connectable to receive: (i) dynamic configuration information determined from an opcode portion of the data processing instruction, the programmable lookup table comprising pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information; and (ii) one or more control output(s) from the operator modules and operable to translate the dynamic configuration information with the control output(s) into the operator configuration settings defining an aspect of their function and/or behavior of the configurable operator module for dynamically configuring the operator modules on an instruction-by-instruction basis. The configurable execution unit also comprises a configurable switch fabric connected to provide the input operands to the operator modules and having connectivity defined at least in part by pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of operating a configurable execution unit. The configurable execution unit comprises operator modules capable of being dynamically configured at the level of processing multi-bit operand values by a data processing instruction. The method comprises decoding the data processing instruction; supplying one or more control output(s) to a programmable lookup table; supplying operator configuration settings to at least one of the operator modules; and defining the connectivity of a configurable switching fabric. The data processing instructions are decoded to indicate an input operand and configuration information in and opcode. The one or more control output(s) supplied to the programmable lookup table are supplied from the operator modules and the configuration information. The programmable lookup table translates the configuration information together with the control output(s) into operator configuration settings for at least one configurable operator. The programmable lookup table is implemented as a programmable logic array and comprises pseudo static control instructions provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information. The operator configuration settings are supplied to the at least one configurable operator module such that an aspect of the function and/or behavior of the operator is selectively adjustable on an instruction-by-instruction basis. The configurable switching fabric is connected to provide the input operands to the operator modules by pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information.

In yet another embodiment there is provided a computer product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code is adapted to be executed to implement the method of operating a configurable execution described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer processor embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configurable execution unit of the computer processor of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates instruction formats suitable for use with the computer system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The processor 100 of FIG. 1 might be part of a computer system in which it is coupled to a main memory and peripherals by a communications bus. Such processor systems may support a range of peripherals in a wide variety of devices and applications, as will be appreciated by a skilled person.

The processor 100 has an instruction memory 102, a data memory 104, an instruction fetch and decode circuit 110, a register file 112, a load/store unit 118, a predetermined number of fixed execution units 120, and a predetermined number of configurable execution units 126.

The instruction memory 102 is coupled to the instruction fetch and decode circuit 110 by means of an instruction bus 108 and an address bus 109. The instruction fetch and decode circuit 110 is further connected to the register file 112 by an address bus 111, and to load/store unit 118, fixed execution units 120 and the configurable execution units 126 by control bus system 113. The control bus 113 is used for example to carry operation configuration information decoded from instructions to the relevant inputs of the load/store unit 118, the fixed execution units 120 and the configurable execution units 126. An operand bus system 115 supplies the load/store unit 118, fixed execution units 120 and the configurable execution units 126 with operands from the register file based on the decoded instruction.

The load/store unit 118 has connections to and from 121, 122 the data memory 104 and can output results to a result bus 128 also serving to receive outputs of the fixed execution units 120 and the configurable execution units 126. The result bus 128 is fed back to an input of the register file 112.

In this embodiment, the processor 100 supports single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processing in the fixed and configurable execution units. In other embodiments it is possible that only one or neither of the fixed and configurable execution units support SIMD processes.

Control circuitry in the instruction fetch and decode circuit 110 is generally responsible for requesting, receiving and decoding a sequence of instructions from the instruction memory 102 and controlling the various components of the processor in accordance with the those instructions. Typical instructions include load/store operations, control function operations, data processing operations and/or specific operations performed by various functional units.

Load/store instructions are used to access data in the data memory 104 and to move the data between the data memory 104 and the register file 112, where the data resides immediately prior to, and immediately after, operations performed on it. Control function operations such as branches may operate entirely within the instruction decode and fetch unit 110, for example to affect the sequence of fetched instructions, or may involve one or more of the fixed and configurable execution units in the calculation of settings for the processor. Data processing operations are used in the performance of algorithms and, likewise, may involve fixed and/or configurable execution units, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the internal components of an exemplary execution unit 126. With reference to FIG. 2, the configurable execution unit 126 includes a programmable lookup table 210, a configurable operator stage 230, an input crossbar interconnect 240, and an output crossbar interconnect 250.

The programmable lookup table 210 and the interconnects 240, 250 are configurable in the sense they rely on pseudo-static control information which is presetable by special-purpose instructions, but which is not itself dynamically configurable on a cycle-by-cycle basis by data processing instructions. This presetable control information is referred to herein as pseudo static control information (PSCI) and is indicated by the reference numerals 249 on FIG. 2. The pseudo static control information 249 dictates aspects of the functionality and behaviour of the programmable lookup table 210 and the cross bar interconnects 240, 250 in a manner that will be apparent to a skilled person.

The configurable operator stage 230 includes sets of operator modules 202-208, each designed to perform a different class of operations. The operator modules are supplied by operand input buses 242 from the input crossbar interconnect. In this embodiment there are provided multiply operators 202, ALU operators 204, storage operators 206 and shift/permute operators 208. A skilled person will appreciate that the number and functions of operators will be based on the intended application and/or the intended purpose of the processor. It is possible that all or a selection of the operator modules 202-208 are dynamically configurable by means described herein.

The operator modules 202-208 are hard-wired to an extent making them efficient in the operations they are designed to perform but at the same time have various control inputs permitting configurability at the level of behavior effecting performance of operations on multi-bit values. This is to support variations in behavior and or type of the operator modules within the class of operations each is designed to perform. For example an addition unit may support subtraction as well as addition (different types of operation or function within a general class of arithmetic), it may support a variety of SIMD vector data types as well as scalar types (versatile behavior), and it may support a variety of rounding modes and/or overflow behaviors (selectable behavior).

In one embodiment, control inputs to the operators 202-208 and interconnections of various elements on the operator stage 230 are configurable to an extent permitting efficient performance of the desired variety of algorithms, particularly vector algorithms, examples of which include convolutions, Fast Fourier Transforms, Trellis/Viterbi calculations, correlations, finite impulse response filtering, and others. This extent is in practice readily established by appropriately skilled engineers, who also know the range of data processing functionalities required for an instruction set to support relevant calculations according to such algorithms as well as the control functions of a processor.

The operators of the operator stage 230 are dynamically configurable, on an instruction by instruction basis (“dynamically”), such that an instruction containing configuration information (e.g., a data processing instruction) can selectively alter operator function (operation type) and/or behavior by supplying the configuration information as control settings to be applied when its operands are operated on. Alternatively, the instruction set may be designed so that configuration information in an instruction configures operator function and/or behavior to be applied when processing operands from a subsequent instruction (e.g., a subsequent data processing operation).

Control inputs 279 for the operators derived from the programmable lookup table 210 are supplied to the operator stage, for example to provide control inputs to control the function and/or behaviour of the operators 204-208. Examples of these control inputs include carry-in signals, multiplexer selections, negotiable inputs, and overflow behavior control settings. Control outputs 281 from operator modules 202-208 in the operator stage 230 can be output to the programmable lookup table 210, and therefore may, in turn, participate in defining control input settings 279. Examples of control outputs 281 include overflow indications, FIFO full signals, and the Boolean results of arithmetic comparisons.

In practice, operation configuration information 277 in say a data processing instruction is decoded and supplied to the programmable lookup table 210. This configuration information 277, together with control information 281, is translated by the programmable look-up table 210 into corresponding control inputs 279 for the operator stage and supplied to the operator stage 230. The translation function performed by the lookup table 210 is determined by pseudo static control information 249, which in turn may be set by earlier control instructions.

In one embodiment, the programmable look up table 210 may be regarded itself as depending on pseudo static control information selectable based on operator configuration information in a data processing instruction. The programmable lookup table 210 is thus able to produce inputs to the operators responsive to dynamic configuration information 277 (derived from an instruction), or control outputs from the operators 281, or PSCI 249, or any combination of these inputs to the programmable look up table 210. There is thus no need for pseudo static control information to be input directly to the operator stage 230. Although this may be desirable in some circumstances.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the programmable lookup table 210 can be implemented as a programmable logic array (PLA) of a type well-known to a skilled person, or as a cascade of such PLAs, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. In the case of FIG. 2B, PLA1 translates configuration bits 277 from the instruction into a first intermediate code, PLA2 translates control outputs 281 of the operators to a second intermediate code, and PLA3 combines both intermediate codes to generate a set of control inputs 279 for the operators. Such a cascaded arrangement may be desirable because it may require less hardware than the single PLA of FIG. 2A.

In one embodiment, the connectivity of the cross-bar interconnects 240, 250 and the interconnections between operators in stage 230 are not configurable dynamically based on control information in data processing instructions. Instead, these components 240, 250 are configurable in advance of operations by setting the PSCI, possibly by uploads or performance of control setting operations.

Input interconnect 240 provides operand inputs for each of the plurality of operator modules 202-208. The input interconnect 240 can receive operands 224 according to decoded data processing instructions and can receive result values from the outputs of the operators 202-204 via feedback bus 225.

Output interconnect 250 receives outputs from the operator modules 202-208 and supplies the final output result 290 of the configurable execution unit 126. By virtue of the feedback bus 225, the crossbar switch 240 and, optionally also the storage operators 206, series and parallel combinations of simple multiple operations can execute complex operations on the input operands 224 responsive to a single data processing instruction, before supplying a result 290 outside the execution unit. These advantageous types of “deep” execution operation may be regarded, in simple terms, as operations in which a plurality (generally three or more) of mathematical operations are performed sequentially on operands or a set of operands before the results 290 are sent out to be written to a result register in the register file 112. In these types of deep operations the storage operators 206 can hold intermediate results so that they can participate in later operation cycles before results 290 are output. Series and/or parallel operations of this type are novel. Moreover, the facility to build networks which are series-parallel combinations of basic operators is advantageous. An example of a parallel-type operation is a range check: AND(A>min, A<max), where the two compare calculations are done in parallel on the common operand A.

A skilled person will appreciate that the entire structure of FIG. 2 can be pipelined appropriately to enable complex multistage operations to be achieved without compromising processor speed.

Thus it has be described how, in use, the instruction fetch and decode circuit 110 decodes data processing instructions and controls the various components of the processor 100 such that the configuration information 277 from the instruction is supplied to the programmable look-up table 210 and the or each operand 224 is supplied from the register file to the input interconnect 240. In this way, the configuration information 277 from the instruction selectively, dynamically modifies aspects of the function and/or behaviour of one or more of the operators via the programmable lookup table 210.

The configurable execution unit 126 thus relies on several types of control. First, there is static control exemplified in the advantageous level of hardwiring to provide the various operator classes of modules 202-208. Second, there is pseudo static control information (PSCI), which resides for example in the predetermined configurations of the interconnect components 240, 250 and the programmable lookup table 210. As explained herein before, pseudo static control information is distributed to certain configurable components (for example the lookup table 210 and the interconnects 240, 250) to determine aspects of the function and behaviors of execution unit 200 in advance of performing software-customized instructions which are themselves capable of dynamically configuring (adjusting configuration) of operators on an instruction by instruction basis. In addition, there is dynamic control information which can be provided by instructions on a cycle by cycle basis. The instruction set may be customized after manufacture provided it adheres to certain general protocols which ensure the instruction set remains compatible with the operation of the processor. The combination of post manufacture software-customized instructions capable of dynamically configuring operators and other components which are configurable in advance permits a wide range of manipulations and mathematical functions and leads to elegant solutions to complex algorithms. In this context elegant might be taken to mean reducing the cycle numbers and power requirements.

The PSCI may be distributed to components by means of, for example, (i) direct upload from an external DMA port or (ii) by performance of specifically designed PSCI setting instructions according to which data used to calculate PSCI settings will enter the unit as operand data 224 with results setting PSCI based on the destination address.

Dynamic control information 277 contained in the opcode part of a processor instruction (including operator configuration information) is used to access the programmable look-up table 210. In some embodiments, the dynamic control information is represented by a multi-bit field in the instruction and the settings issued from the programmable lookup table 210 include an expanded set of control inputs (settings) for the entire execution unit 230.

In some embodiments, the various modules 202-208 of the operator stage 230 are designed to handle data processing operations at least one input of which is a multi-bit value, such as a vector or an element of a vector (a scalar). Accordingly, operator modules 202-208 are configurable at the level of operations on multi-bit values. For example, a 64-bit vector input to a data processing operation may include four 16-bit scalar operands. Herein a vector may be regarded as an assembly of scalar operands. Software customizable vector arithmetic may thus be achieved on pluralities of scalar operands and typically requires a certain amount of permutation of scalar elements. Not all operands of a vector operation need be vectors; for example, a vector operation may have both scalar and vector inputs and may output a result that is either a scalar or vector.

Various instruction formats suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIG. 3. At 300 there is a PSCI setting instruction specifically designed to perform pseudo static control setting operations for example for one or more of the components 210, 240 and/or 250. The PSCI setting instruction 300 includes a first opcode portion 302 indicating it is a type of PSCI setting instruction, and a second opcode portion 303 indicating a destination associated with the or each component 210, 240, 250 intended to be configured. The remainder of the instruction 304 may be used to carry or point to PSCI intended for the destination.

Referring to the instruction format 400 there is disclosed a class of data processing instructions including dynamic configuration setting information, based on which a reference is made in the programmable look-up table 210. The instruction 400 includes a first opcode portion 410 defining the data processing operation to be performed, preferably including an indication that the instruction is a type of data processing operation including dynamic configuration setting information for configuring one or more operators of the configurable execution unit 230. The instruction 400 also includes a second opcode portion 415 pointing to a destination address to which the results will be sent, a third opcode portion 420 containing operator configuration information 420, and one or more operands 430 for use in the data processing operation. Alternatively, the field 430 may include pointers to one or more operands in registers. A skilled person will appreciate that one or more the of the fields described may be combined or omitted in other embodiments.

The operator configuration information 420 is used to access the look-up table 210 and is translated to contribute to operator control input settings 279, as described hereinbefore.

Some embodiments can handle different types of data processing calculations within certain algorithms particularly efficiently, for example algorithms including convolutions, Fast Fourier Transforms, Trellis/Viterbi calculations, correlations, finite impulse response filtering, and the like. Moreover, some processors support the performance of software-customized instructions which operate on multi-bit operand values, for example instructions acting on operands of four or more bits or at the level of computer words (typically 16, 32, or 64 bits). Embodiments can thus efficiently perform complex software-customized operations as sets of customized operations (series and/or parallel), in response to individual software-customized processor instructions forming part of the processor instruction set.

A skilled reader will appreciate that the invention should not be limited to specific apparatus configurations or method steps disclosed in this description of an embodiment. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the invention has a broad range of applications, and that the embodiments admit of a wide range of modifications without departing from the inventive concepts.

For example, any aspect of the operator module or modules may be dynamically configurable. The programmable lookup table may be any device suitable for translation of opcode information to operator control settings. It is possible, in other embodiments, one or more of the components 240, 250 may be configured dynamically by means of control information in an instruction or that certain operators are configurable in advance by directly uploading PSCI. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A configurable execution unit comprising: a configurable operator module capable of being dynamically configured at a level of processing multi-bit operand values by a data processing instruction and being connectable to receive input operands indicated in the data processing instruction, wherein the at least one configurable operator module is dynamically configurable by operator configuration settings to adjust operator function and/or behavior within a general operation class characterized in that the at least one configurable operator module is hard-wired to support a predetermined class of operation; a programmable lookup table implemented as a programmable logic array connectable to receive (i) dynamic configuration information determined from an opcode portion of the data processing instruction and (ii) one or more control output(s) from the configurable operator module, the programmable logic array operable to translate the dynamic configuration information with the control output(s) into the operator configuration settings defining an aspect of the function and/or behavior of the configurable operator module for dynamically configuring the configurable operator module on an instruction-by-instruction basis, the programmable lookup table comprising pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information; and a configurable switch fabric connected to provide said input operands to the configurable operator module and having connectivity defined at least in part by the pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information, wherein said configurable switching fabric comprises one or more of: a configurable interconnect means connected upstream of the configurable operator module and configurable output interconnect means connected downstream of the configurable operator module.
 2. A configurable execution unit as in claim 1, wherein said programmable logic array comprises cascaded programmable logic arrays.
 3. A configurable execution unit as in claim 1, wherein said configurable switching fabric comprises configurable input interconnect means connected upstream of the configurable operator module and configurable output interconnect means connected downstream of the configurable operator module.
 4. A configurable execution unit as in claim 3, wherein one or more outputs of the configurable operator module is connected to said configurable input interconnect means.
 5. A configurable execution module as in claim 1, wherein the configurable operator module includes a configurable shift and or permute functionality.
 6. A configurable execution unit as in claim 1, wherein the pseudo static control information is established by configuration setting instructions.
 7. A configurable execution unit as in claim 1, the configurable operator module wherein, in use, an operator configuration according to said configuration information acts on operands indicated in said data processing operation.
 8. An execution unit as in claim 1, the configurable operator module wherein, in use, an operator configuration according to said configuration information acts on operands indicated in a subsequent instruction.
 9. An execution unit as in claim 1, capable in response to a single instruction of performing two or more sequential, selectively configurable operations on an operand before outputting results.
 10. An execution unit as in claim 1, wherein the configurable operator module supports SIMD operations.
 11. An execution unit as in claim 1, comprising multiple configurable operator modules in one or more of the following operator classes: multiplier, arithmetic logic, storage, shift and/or permute.
 12. An execution unit as in claim 1, wherein the programmable lookup table generates operator configuration settings selected from one or more of: a carry-in signal; a multiplexer selection; a negotiable input; an overflow setting; and other suitable inputs of operators.
 13. An execution unit as in claim 1, wherein the control output from the configurable operator module comprises one or more selected from: an overflow indication; a FIFO full signal; a Boolean result of arithmetic comparison; and other suitable outputs of operators.
 14. A method of operating a configurable execution unit comprising a configurable operator module capable of being dynamically configured at a level of processing multi-bit operand values by a data processing instruction, comprising: decoding the data processing instruction indicating an input operand and comprising configuration information in an opcode; supplying to a programmable lookup table one or more control output(s) from the configurable operator module and said configuration information, the programmable lookup table translating the configuration information together with the control output(s) into operator configuration settings for the configurable operator module, wherein the programmable lookup table is implemented as a programmable logic array and comprises pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information; supplying said operator configuration settings to the configurable operator module such that an aspect of the function and/or behavior of the operator is thereby selectively adjustable on an instruction-by-instruction basis; and defining the connectivity of a configurable switching fabric connected to provide said input operands to the configurable operator module, by pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information, wherein said configurable switching fabric comprises one or more of: a configurable interconnect means connected upstream of the configurable operator module and configurable output interconnect means connected downstream of the configurable operator module.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein a sequence of two or more operations are performed in series responsive to the instruction.
 16. A method according to claim 14, wherein two or more operations are performed in parallel responsive to the instruction.
 17. A method according to claim 14, wherein a combination of series and parallel operations is performed responsive to the instruction.
 18. A method according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of series and/or parallel operations are performed responsive to the instruction and at least one intermediate result is held in a storage operator between operations or before being output from the configurable execution unit to a result store.
 19. A method according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of series and/or parallel operations are performed responsive to the instruction and wherein an intermediate result is shifted or permuted between operations or before being output from the configurable execution unit to a result store.
 20. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method of operating a configurable execution unit comprising a configurable operator module capable of being dynamically configured at a level of processing multi-bit operand values by a data processing instruction, the method comprising: decoding the data processing instruction indicating an input operand and comprising configuration information in an opcode; supplying to a programmable lookup table one or more control output(s) from the configurable operator module and said configuration information, the programmable lookup table translating the configuration information together with the control output(s) into operator configuration settings for the configurable operator module, wherein the programmable lookup table is implemented as a programmable logic array and comprises pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information; supplying said operator configuration settings to the configurable operator module such that an aspect of the function and/or behavior of the operator is thereby selectively adjustable on an instruction-by-instruction basis; and defining the connectivity of a configurable switching fabric connected to provide said input operands to the configurable operator module, by pseudo static control information provided independently of the data processing instruction carrying the dynamic configuration information, wherein said configurable switching fabric comprises one or more of: a configurable interconnect means connected upstream of the configurable operator module and configurable output interconnect means connected downstream of the configurable operator module. 